Touch Control Structure of an Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode Display Screen

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a touch control structure of an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen, comprising a transmitting structure and a receiving structure that are mutually inductive, the transmitting structure comprises a first encapsulation film, a first patterned electrode and a second encapsulation film; the receiving structure further comprises a flexible polymer foil sheet and a second patterned electrode formed on the flexible polymer foil sheet, the receiving structure and the transmitting structure are assembled by adhering the surface of the flexible polymer foil sheet having the second patterned electrode formed thereon to the second encapsulation film; wherein, the first encapsulation film comprises multiple layers of films including at least one layer of inorganic film, the second encapsulation film comprises multiple layers of films including at least one layer of inorganic film.

This application is a continuation of U.S. utility application Ser. No.15/102,719, with a filing date Jun. 8, 2016, which is national stageentry (371) of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2014/093359with a filing date of Dec. 9, 2014, designating the United States, andfurther claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201320801754.8with a filing date of Dec. 9, 2013. The content of the aforementionedapplications, including any intervening amendments thereto, areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of display panels and touchcontrol technology, more specifically, the present invention relates toa touch control structure of an active-matrix organic light-emittingdiode (AMOLED) display screen which is a hybrid touch control structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Touch control has become a necessary configuration of small to mediumdisplay panels and has a large market. In order to increase the addedvalue of products and to grasp the touch control technology in their ownhands, display panel manufacturers rush to develop embedded touchcontrol technology, mainly including in-cell technology and on-celltechnology, wherein the in-cell technology refers to a method in whichthe touch panel function is embedded within the liquid crystal pixels,and the on-cell technology refers to a method in which the touch panelfunction is embedded between the color filter substrate and thepolarizing plate. As for a flexible active-matrix organic light-emittingdiode (AMOLED) display screen, the existence of film encapsulation makesthe on-cell technology very hard to be applied, because forming aconventional touch control structure on the film encapsulation requiresmultiple times of photo-etching which have significant adverse influenceon the OLED device beneath the film encapsulation. An OLED device hashuge differences from a liquid crystal display device, which makes thein-cell technology very hard to be applied to an OLED device. Therefore,it is needed to provide a touch control means of an active-matrixorganic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen that can achieveflexible touch control and minimize its adverse influence on the filmencapsulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the problem in prior art by minimizing the adverseinfluence of multiple times of photo-etching on the film encapsulationand reducing the degree of difficulty of the process, the presentinvention provides a touch control structure of an active-matrix organiclight-emitting diode display screen.

The technical solution is as follows:

The present invention provides a touch control structure of anactive-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen which isdisposed on a display screen substrate and comprises a transmittingstructure and a receiving structure that are mutually inductive,wherein, the transmitting structure comprises a first encapsulationfilm, a first patterned electrode and a second encapsulation film, thefirst encapsulation film is formed on an organic light-emitting diodedevice disposed on the display screen substrate, the first patternedelectrode is formed on the first encapsulation film, and the secondencapsulation film is formed upon the first patterned electrode; thereceiving structure comprises a flexible polymer foil sheet and a secondpatterned electrode formed on the flexible polymer foil sheet; thereceiving structure and the transmitting structure are assembled to formthe touch control structure by adhering the surface of the flexiblepolymer foil sheet having the second patterned electrode formed thereonto the second encapsulation film, wherein the first patterned electrodeand the second patterned electrode are disposed across from each otherin the assembled touch control structure; wherein, the firstencapsulation film comprises multiple layers of films including at leastone layer of inorganic film, the second encapsulation film comprisesmultiple layers of films including at least one layer of inorganic film.

Preferably, the first patterned electrode in the transmitting structureand the second patterned electrode in the receiving structure both havea bar-shaped pattern, and the patterns of the first patterned electrodeand the second patterned electrode are formed to be overlapping andcomplementary patterns.

Further, the bar-shaped pattern of the first patterned electrode and thebar-shaped pattern of the second patterned electrode are arrangedorthogonal to each other.

Further preferably, the first encapsulation film also includes one ormore layers of organic films.

Preferably, the first patterned electrode and the second patternedelectrode both have a thickness of 5 nm-1000 nm.

Preferably, the first encapsulation film and the second encapsulationfilm both have a thickness of 50 nm-5000 nm.

Preferably, the display screen substrate is a glass substrate or aflexible polymer substrate.

Preferably, the second encapsulation film is composed of alternatelyformed two pairs of polyacrylate layers and silicon nitride layers,wherein the silicon nitride layer is produced by plasma enhancedchemical vapor deposition and the polyacrylate layer is produced byink-jet printing followed by ultraviolet curing.

The present invention also provides a preparation method for a touchcontrol structure of an active-matrix organic light-emitting diodedisplay screen, comprising the following steps:

-   a step of preparing a transmitting structure, comprising: forming a    first encapsulation film on an organic light-emitting diode device    disposed on a substrate, forming a first patterned electrode on the    first encapsulation film, and forming a second encapsulation film    upon the first patterned electrode, wherein, the first encapsulation    film is formed by multiple layers of films including at least one    layer of inorganic film, the second encapsulation film is formed by    multiple layers of films including at least one layer of inorganic    film;-   a step of preparing a receiving structure, comprising: forming a    second patterned electrode on a flexible polymer foil sheet; and-   a step of assembling the receiving structure and the transmitting    structure together to form the touch control structure, comprising:    adhering the surface of the flexible polymer foil sheet having the    second patterned electrode formed thereon to the second    encapsulation film, wherein the first patterned electrode and the    second encapsulation film are disposed across from each other in the    assembled touch control structure.

Preferably, the second encapsulation film is produced by alternatelyforming two pairs of polyacrylate layers and silicon nitride layers,wherein the silicon nitride layer is produced by plasma enhancedchemical vapor deposition and the polyacrylate layer is produced byink-jet printing followed by ultraviolet curing.

The beneficial effects brought about by the technical solution of thepresent invention are:

-   (1) In the present invention, the first encapsulation film and the    second encapsulation film together constitute an encapsulation layer    for the active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen,    and the first patterned electrode of the touch control structure is    embedded within this encapsulation layer. Therefore, not only the    organic light-emitting diode device of the display screen can be    protected by this encapsulation layer from moisture and oxygen    corrosion, but also, with the first patterned electrode of the touch    control structure embedded within this encapsulation layer, the    overall thickness of the touch control display screen can be    significantly reduced.-   (2) In the present invention, a first patterned electrode and a    second patterned electrode are respectively formed on the first    encapsulation film and on the flexible polymer foil, and thus these    patterned electrodes can be made from nano silver or grapheme with    low cost, which further reduces the cost and at the same time    achieves flexible touch control.-   (3) In the present invention, the receiving structure is formed on    the basis of a flexible polymer foil sheet which is made from    materials including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate,    polyethylene terenaphthalate, polyethersulfone, polyimide and    parylene, the second patterned electrode of the capacitive touch    control sensor is formed on the polymer foil sheet, and the second    patterned electrode has the same material, forming method and    selection range as those of the first patterned electrode. Because    the second patterned electrode is formed directly upon the flexible    polymer foil sheet, not upon a device component, the degree of    difficulty of the manufacture process is significantly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions of embodimentsof the present invention, hereinafter, the appended drawings required bydescription of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Apparently,the appended drawings described below are only directed to someembodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art,without expenditure of creative labor, other drawings can be derived onthe basis of these appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the touch control structure ofactive-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen provided bythe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the AMOLED touch control structuredescribed by one embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings: 10-transmitting structure, 101-display screensubstrate, 102-thin film transistor array, 103-organic light-emittingdiode device, 104-first encapsulation film, 105-first patternedelectrode, 106-second encapsulation film, 107-glue, 108-second patternedelectrode, 109-polymer foil sheet, 20-receiving structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In order to more clearly illustrate the purpose, technical solution andadvantages of the present invention, hereinafter, specific embodimentsof the present invention will be further described in detail withreference to the appended drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a touch controlstructure of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screenwhich comprises a transmitting structure 10 and a receiving structure20, wherein, the transmitting structure 10 comprises a firstencapsulation film 104, a first patterned electrode 105 and a secondencapsulation film 106, the first encapsulation film 104 is formed on anorganic light-emitting diode device 103 disposed on the display screensubstrate 101, the first patterned electrode 105 is formed on the firstencapsulation film 104, and the second encapsulation film 106 is formedupon the first patterned electrode 105; the receiving structure 20comprises a flexible polymer foil sheet 109 and a second patternedelectrode 108 formed on the flexible polymer foil sheet 109, theflexible polymer foil sheet 109 is adhered to the second encapsulationfilm 106 by glue 107, and the first patterned electrode 105 and thesecond patterned electrode 108 are oppositely disposed.

Hereinafter, the preparation process of the touch control structure isdescribed in detail:

-   (I) Preparation of the transmitting structure 10 of the touch    control structure-   A. Selecting a display screen substrate 101 which may be a glass    substrate or may be a flexible polymer substrate.-   B. Forming a thin film transistor (TFT) array 102 on the display    screen substrate 101, which is a technique commonly known to those    skilled in the art, and for which low temperature polycrystalline    silicon (LTPS), indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) and organic thin    film transistor (OTFT) can be applied for controlling light emitting    of the pixels.-   C. Forming an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device 103 on the    thin film transistor (TFT) array 102, wherein, the methods of    forming the thin film transistor (TFT) array 102 and the organic    light-emitting diode (OLED) device 103 are commonly applied in the    art and thus are not restricted herein.-   D. Upon the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device 103, forming    a single layer of multiple layers of a first encapsulation film 104    with a function of insulation from water and oxygen, wherein, the    first encapsulation film 104 includes at least one layer of    inorganic film which is made from materials including but not    limited to one or more selected from aluminum oxide, silicon oxide,    silicon nitride, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, non-crystalline    carbon and magnesium oxide by a forming method including but not    limited to atom layer deposition, sputtering and chemical vapor    deposition; and the first encapsulation film 104 may also include    one or more layers of organic films made from materials including    but not limited to polyacrylate, polyurea, polyimide and parylene by    a forming method including but not limited to organic chemical vapor    deposition, ink-jet printing, flash vaporization, organic vapor    deposition and spin coating.-   E. Forming a first patterned electrode 105 of the capacitive touch    control sensor on the first encapsulation film 104, wherein the    first patterned electrode 105 is made from materials including but    not limited to indium tin oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide,    fluorine-doped zinc oxide, silver nanowire, carbon nanotube,    graphene and conductive polymer by a patterning method including but    not limited to photo-etching, ink-jet printing, metal mask and    screen printing, and the first patterned electrode 105 has a    thickness of 5 nm-1000 nm depending on different materials that are    used.-   F. Forming a second encapsulation film 106 upon the first patterned    electrode 105, wherein, the second encapsulation film 106 has the    same material and forming method as that of the first encapsulation    film 104, and the first encapsulation film and the second    encapsulation film both have a thickness of 50 nm-5000 nm. Thus, the    transmitting structure 10 in the touch control structure is    produced.-   (II) Preparation of the receiving structure 20 of the touch control    structure

The flexible polymer foil sheet 109 is made of materials including butnot limited to polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terenaphthalate,polyethersulfone, polyimide and parylene. A second patterned electrode108 of the capacitive touch control sensor is formed on the flexiblepolymer foil sheet 109. Preferably, the bar-shaped pattern of the firstpatterned electrode 108 and the bar-shaped pattern of the secondpatterned electrode 105 are arranged orthogonal to each other, and thesecond patterned electrode 108 has the same material, forming method andselection range as those of the first patterned electrode 105. Becausethe second patterned electrode 108 is formed directly upon the flexiblepolymer foil sheet 109, not upon a device component, the degree ofdifficulty of the manufacture process is significantly reduced.

Finally, a surface of the second encapsulation film 106 of thetransmitting structure 10 is adhered to a surface of the secondpatterned electrode 108 of the receiving structure 20 by glue 107, andthereby the second patterned electrode 108 and the first patternedelectrode 105 are formed to be overlapping with complementary patternsthat are suitable to be used as a capacitive touch control sensor.

Embodiment 1

As shown in FIG. 2, the display screen substrate 101 is a flexiblepolymer substrate made from polyimide. A low temperature polycrystallinesilicon thin film transistor array is formed on the display screensubstrate, and then an organic light-emitting diode device 103 is formedupon the top electrodes corresponding to this array. The firstencapsulation film 104 is composed of alternately formed two pairs ofpolyacrylate layers and silicon nitride layers, wherein the siliconnitride layer is produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor depositionand the polyacrylate layer is produced by ink-jet printing followed byultraviolet curing. The first patterned electrode 105 of the capacitivetouch control sensor is formed on the first encapsulation film 104,wherein the first patterned electrode 105 has a bar-shaped pattern and athickness of 25 nm and is made from indium tin oxide by a preparationmethod of magnetron sputtering and a patterning method of metal mask.The second encapsulation film 106 is formed upon the first patternedelectrode 105 and is composed of alternately formed two pairs ofpolyacrylate layers and silicon nitride layers, wherein the siliconnitride layer is produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor depositionand the polyacrylate layer is produced by ink-jet printing followed byultraviolet curing. The aforementioned processes form a first part ofthe display screen, i.e. the transmitting structure 10. The second partof the display screen, i.e. the receiving structure 20 comprises aflexible polymer foil sheet 109 and a second patterned electrode 108.Wherein, the flexible polymer foil sheet 109 is made of polyethyleneterephthalate, and the second patterned electrode 108 is formed on theflexible polymer foil sheet 109, wherein the second patterned electrode108 has a thickness of 30 nm and is made from indium tin oxide by apreparation method of magnetron sputtering and a patterning method ofphoto-etching. Finally, a surface of the second encapsulation film 106of the transmitting structure 10 is adhered oppositely to a surface ofthe second patterned electrode 108 of the receiving structure 20 by glue107, and thereby the transmitting structure 10 is fitted to thereceiving structure 20 by glue 107.

The above-mentioned sequence number of embodiment of the presentinvention is only for description, and does not represent superior orinferior of the embodiment.

The aforementioned contents are only preferable embodiments of thepresent invention, and should not be interpreted to limit the presentinvention. Any changes, equivalent substitutes, and modifications madewithin the inventive concept and principle of the present invention areintended to be embraced within the protection scope of the presentinvention.

We claim:
 1. A touch control structure of an active-matrix organiclight-emitting diode display screen, which is disposed on a displayscreen substrate, characterized in comprising a transmitting structureand a receiving structure that are mutually inductive, wherein, thetransmitting structure comprises a first encapsulation film, a firstpatterned electrode and a second encapsulation film, the firstencapsulation film is formed on an organic light-emitting diode devicedisposed on the display screen substrate, the first patterned electrodeis formed on the first encapsulation film, and the second encapsulationfilm is formed upon the first patterned electrode; the receivingstructure comprises a flexible polymer foil sheet and a second patternedelectrode formed on the flexible polymer foil sheet; the receivingstructure and the transmitting structure are assembled to form the touchcontrol structure by adhering the surface of the flexible polymer foilsheet having the second patterned electrode formed thereon to the secondencapsulation film, wherein the first patterned electrode and the secondpatterned electrode are disposed across from each other in the assembledtouch control structure; wherein, the first encapsulation film comprisesmultiple layers of films including at least one layer of inorganic film,the second encapsulation film comprises multiple layers of filmsincluding at least one layer of inorganic film.
 2. The touch controlstructure of an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode displayscreen in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, the firstpatterned electrode in the transmitting structure and the secondpatterned electrode in the receiving structure both have a bar-shapedpattern, and the patterns of the first patterned electrode and thesecond patterned electrode are formed to be overlapping andcomplementary patterns.
 3. The touch control structure of anactive-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen in accordancewith claim 2, characterized in that, the bar-shaped pattern of the firstpatterned electrode and the bar-shaped pattern of the second patternedelectrode are arranged orthogonal to each other.
 4. The touch controlstructure of an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode displayscreen in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, the firstencapsulation film also includes one or more layers of organic films. 5.The touch control structure of an active-matrix organic light-emittingdiode display screen in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that,the first patterned electrode and the second patterned electrode bothhave a thickness of 5 nm-1000 nm.
 6. The touch control structure of anactive-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen in accordancewith claim 5, characterized in that, the first encapsulation film andthe second encapsulation film both have a thickness of 50 nm-5000 nm. 7.The touch control structure of an active-matrix organic light-emittingdiode display screen in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that,the display screen substrate is a glass substrate or a flexible polymersubstrate.
 8. The touch control structure of an active-matrix organiclight-emitting diode display screen in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that, the second encapsulation film is composed ofalternately formed two pairs of polyacrylate layers and silicon nitridelayers, wherein the silicon nitride layer is produced by plasma enhancedchemical vapor deposition and the polyacrylate layer is produced byink-jet printing followed by ultraviolet curing.
 9. A preparation methodfor a touch control structure of an active-matrix organic light-emittingdiode display screen, characterized in comprising the following steps: astep of preparing a transmitting structure, comprising: forming a firstencapsulation film on an organic light-emitting diode device disposed ona substrate, forming a first patterned electrode on the firstencapsulation film, and forming a second encapsulation film upon thefirst patterned electrode, wherein, the first encapsulation film isformed by multiple layers of films including at least one layer ofinorganic film, the second encapsulation film is formed by multiplelayers of films including at least one layer of inorganic film; a stepof preparing a receiving structure, comprising: forming a secondpatterned electrode on a flexible polymer foil sheet; and a step ofassembling the receiving structure and the transmitting structuretogether to form the touch control structure, comprising: adhering thesurface of the flexible polymer foil sheet having the second patternedelectrode formed thereon to the second encapsulation film, wherein thefirst patterned electrode and the second encapsulation film are disposedacross from each other in the assembled touch control structure.
 10. Thepreparation method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that,the second encapsulation film is produced by alternately forming twopairs of polyacrylate layers and silicon nitride layers, wherein thesilicon nitride layer is produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapordeposition and the polyacrylate layer is produced by ink-jet printingfollowed by ultraviolet curing.